|
Notes from
AFWA meeting, Lake Charles LA
January
26-29, 2010 by Dave
Hastings
Gary Jepson and Dave Hastings
attended the Fur Resources Technical Working Group
meeting of the Association of Fish And Wildlife
Agencies. Below is my notes—they are not official
minutes. If you have questions, please contact me or
Gary.
Gordon Batcheller
(Chair), Jay Buttfulkowski (sp?)(SC), John Erb (MN), Jim
Curran (NTA-NV), Tom Krause (NTA-WY), Bryant White,
Brian Roberts (Cornell, NY), John Olsen (WI), Phil
Milburn (OR), Don McLaughlin (AFWA), Sam Smith (LA-Fur &
Alligator Council), Michael Fall (APHIS), Greg Waters
(GA), Kim Royer (VT), Buddy Baker (LA), Ed Mouton (LA).
--“Wildlife
Monograph”—a multi-year project to publish a document
that will impact the academic community regarding BMP
trap testing research. Basically they intend to formally
publish the BMP trap testing research in a formal
scientific journal.
--Joint Management
Committee report. White, Olsen, McLaughlin, and
Batcheller attended meetings in Moscow with the EU
group. Part of the intent was to track progress of the
partners of the international agreement that Canada,
Russia, and the EU signed. (US chose instead to do the
“Agreed Minute”) Russia only recently ratified that
treaty decision (12 years after the fact of signing) so
they have done nothing. US delegation reported, but were
not part of the process since technically we did not
sign. The US delegation presented a report that
discussed the facts of the US BMP project, and the
members were interested, particularly in the financial
aspects of the American fur harvest. One noted change in
the EU is that they have dramatically increased in
membership (now 27 members). This means far more
diversity that the original central European member
core, which may be a benefit for us. The JMC will meet
in Charleston, SC, in October of 2010.
--Web based
interactive National Trapper Education program. 38
states have adopted some portion of the BMP trapper ed
materials into state publications. The Web based course
now has 17 chapters. When a student finishes Chapter 1,
he takes a quiz and can go on to chapter 2 only if he
passes that quiz, and so on. Kansas and Illinois have
incorporated some part of this.
--National
Furbearer on-line harvest database. AFWA contracted with
a company but the end result was ineffective.
Considering a simple spreadsheet type, and Bryant White
may hire a part-time technician to collect the data.
--Bobcat, River
Otter tagging issue. Continues to be in limbo.
Meeting of the “Conference of Parties” (COP) March 13-26
in Qatar, and there will be a push to move them to
appendix 3, which would eliminate the
international/federal requirement for tagging. Still
resistance from European interests, due to look-alike
issues, etc. AFWA has produced brochure materials that
explain how customs officials can clearly id bobcat as
opposed to Iberian Lynx, Eurasian Lynx, and other
endangered spotted cats. Expected Animal Rights
arguments are that the new brochure has not yet been
tested in the field. Don MacLaughlin expressed that the
efforts to support Mexican bobcat research were very
fruitful, and that research supports the delisting, so
they have removed one more roadblock. (He continues to
thank the FTA, and Bill Applegate of TX for that change.
Proposal to delist from Appendix two includes a promise
to list under Appendix 3 where they are still noted but
not so restrictively. Restrictions of Appendix three
will be primarily the responsibility of exporters, and a
paper trail of ownership will be necessary. “Cautiously
optimistic” that the tagging requirement may be removed
is the description. The removal of the tagging
requirement was nearly a done deal until last fall when
the new director, Sam Hamilton, USF&W (came from the
Atlanta office) put a hold on progress pending the
outcome of the vote in Qatar. If the CITES vote fails,
and the pressure on USF&W fails, then trappers will need
to be mobilized to pressure Senators and Representatives
through the US Government. Action plans are under
consideration in case the first two approaches fail, but
there was a clear commitment in the group to keep
pushing on this.
--Wildlife
Management Techniques will include BMP information.
---Technical
Bulletin on dryland bodygrip traps-similar to the one on
snares. John Olsen, Chair. Not much progress. Committee
has yet to get rolling. Includes Dave Hastings, Tom
Krause, Rick Tischafer, Kim Royce, Sam Wilson, Suzie
Pranger, Frank Boyd. Mission originally was to address
issues arising with dryland bodygrippers.
Describe trap
Use in
harvest-value of trap as necessary tool
Ethical &
responsible use issues
Focus research on
selectivity, etc.
(Expect this
process to be one that is complicated and will be
controversial. States with heavily restricted use
stand to gain, states with liberal regulations may be
more at risk. The legal and political problems from
states with high profile dog killings in 220s are the
original cause of this committee. Will probably meet
soon—have a draft ready for next January. )
---Production and
distribution of BMPs. Expense of printing BMPs, or
“Cliff’s Notes” that is cheaper to reproduce, etc.
Issues arise as to what to add or to omit, etc.
Possibility for “index” or “bookmarks” on the website.
--“Similar” Traps.
Manufacturer concerns; brand names, etc. The FTA has
repeatedly said that to list only one brand name because
that was what was tested carries a bias for that trap,
and fails to recognize all other brands whose traps are
essentially the same. As usual, the discussion went on
for some time, ranging from product endorsement to the
overall purpose of the BMP process. They tried to
reassure us by saying that a manufacturer can say that
his trap is a “BMP trap” if he wants to. No conclusion
was reached. If nothing else, it is clear that we will
not simply just fade away on this one. (They argue that
a real problem occurs if they recommend all other brands
of, say the 1-1/2 coilspring trap, are “similar” when in
fact they do not have test data to prove that they are
similar. We basically said bologna. A Duke, Sleepy
Creek, Montgomery, etc. are all near enough in
construction that it is scientifically defensible to
argue that we can expect animal welfare to be similar as
well.
--The group asked
for concerns from the trapping community. The NTA and
FTA reps both expressed that the discussions among
trappers were generally very quiet. We have concerns
about documents in progress, such as the dryland
bodygrip issues. Jim Curran expressed that he used BMP
materials when he addressed the sportsmen’s caucus, and
felt that the professional and scientific materials were
successful with those various legislators from state
governments. (It seemed to me that the group was at
least willing to listen to us as trapper
representatives.) Another noted shift is that the
“Academic Community” is less resistant to trapping, as
is the Veterinarian groups and the Wildlife Society. In
1996 when we first got involved, that was not so much
the case. Efforts by the AFWA to publish in places like
the Monograph are an effort to get the college academics
and the veterinarians on board with trapping. We may
eventually see that some benefit may yet come from the
BMPs. Stay tuned.
--Discussion of
the Multi-state conservation grant process. Possible
projects were discussed, and the group felt that
projects that involved several constituent groups
proposing together would have a better shot at receiving
funding. The competition is very stiff and must meet the
needs that are not identified until the March meeting.
(They tend to focus on currently popular “glamour”
issues like global warming or wind energy.) (I pushed a
couple of these fellows on the idea of the FTA pursuing
one of these for future projects like the Outdoor
Channel, and they kept encouraging by saying, “Yes, you
should write the grant…” but in all the discussions, the
granting process does not seem promising for us.
--Trapping and
Furbearer Management booklet. Possible updates of
section involving “Calamity by design”—add to that other
case studies that clarify the consequences of not
trapping. Delta Waterfowl, etc?
--“Hunting Ethics”
DVD—John Olsen. Considering the creation of a project
regarding trapping ethics. Might use the Hunter Ethics
video for Hunter Ed as a format model.
(Day 2)
--Update on Status
of BMPs in progress. Swift/Kit fox-hope to write this
year. Ringtail—data collected in 2001. Could write
Canada Lynx. Have tested in Canada on foot traps,
bodygrips and foot snares. Could have draft by May 15 to
ad hoc groups. Second draft by June 30, final draft by
Sept 1. FTA needs to get reps on several committees. (I
will get on that soon!)
Swift/Kit fox,
#1 coil, #1 softcatch, Tomahawk 108 cage. #1 coil did
not pass. 220 bodygrip. (One kind of unique injury to
the small fox was shoulder muscle tearing—evidently a
product of aggressive pulling by the fox.)
Mink and
muskrat trapping underway in cage traps.
Ringtail, Cage
(Tomahawk 108) and bodygrip 110. Sample size has been
reached. White was told that trappers don’t generally go
after ringtail with foot traps. Any BMP on animals that
the Canadians did not test for time-to-death, such as
skunk and ringtail, do not include animal welfare data.
Lengthy
discussion of what side study issues should be looked at
according to priorities, and eventually funding,
bureaucracy of “Animal Use” committees, etc.
Canada Lynx.
Some AK testing, #3 coil and Belisle foot snare.
Canadians have tested and certified the Belisle foot
snare, softcatch 2 & 4 coil, Victor #3 regular jaw
4-coil. No ad hoc group established yet. (FTA needs a
member on that committee.) Will probably add a lynx
chair to contact AK for potential involvement in
testing. Initial drafting may occur, and possibly adding
10 additional lynx captures to complete the #3 coil
unmodified so it is recommended also.
(All of the high
priority species have completed BMPs, and medium
priorities are done or nearly so. Only low priority
animals left, badger, wolverine, wolf, basserisk, and
arctic fox.)
New testing on
badger will include 1.75 and MB650—awaiting testing
results from Canadians on bodygrip for badger. Wolverine
with 330 bodygrip and MB750. Artic Fox 1.5 coil, and
220, Canada Lynx #3 coil spring.
--Update on Wolf
issues, John Olsen. WI estimates are 626 wolves in
state(low count, mid-winter survey—could go over 1,200
in June—natural seasonal rise and fall). 1995 on, 17%
growth, as well as deer herd expansion. (Similar in MI,
around 600.) Federal Recovery target number was at 100,
so goals have been met and surpassed significantly. Year
and a half may be optimistic for next proposal to
delist. WI and MI cannot have kill as response to
depredation. MN can. In 2008, 39 wolves captured in WI
in response to depredation. New Book, Recovery of
Gray Wolves in the Great Lakes Region. So far, no
human attacks, but increased reports of non-fearful
wolves; some concern that it is a matter of time. WI
paid over $100,000 on depredation complaints, and guess
about half are dogs killed by wolves.
ID, MT had wolf
season. May 09, Western wolf was delisted. Court heard
but refused stop by injunction. WY excluded because Feds
said WY plan is not protective enough. MT hit 72 of 75,
so closed with full quota. ID has killed 140 of a 225
quota. (ID sold over 25,000 tags at $50 @ ) Season goes
to Mar 31, so may not reach quota. Eastern OR is also
delisted. Lawsuits on relisting are in place, and will
fire up this spring. (Judge Malloy out of MT)
Wolf BMP. Would
help in court to argue that wolf traps are humane.
Sample size collected (60 animals?) No public harvest in
lower 48, much smaller wolf. AK wolf larger. Wildlife
Services. LPC #4 offset with in-line shock spring, 4
swivels. Both stake and drag passed. One passed
efficiency and injury. MB750 is being tested. 15 more
taken this year and necropsies are underway. (Both stake
and drag) May take some time because of minimal
opportunity to get samples. (APHIS Trappers)
--Side Studies.
Research ideas. Cable Restraints/snares breakaway
issues. Snare document taken to Dr. Pei (MO Engineer)
who is confident he can develop whatever testing is
needed. Discussion included Tim Hiller’s proposal.
Brainstormed
list of possible research issues; priorities, possible
5-year plan. Issues which received generally high level
of interest:
1. New trap testing
(chain length/shock spring/drag vs stake, etc.) New trap
designs. KB
traps.
Trapmasters, Montanas, MB 550, 450, RBG.
2. Seeking to have
review of necropsy procedures for future forensic
pathologists
3. Trap use survey
4. Retesting of
traps that failed but showed promise; including methods
of attachment
5. Body grip trap
performance/cameras
6. Trap
modeling—use of computer generated data to predict the
injury score of a new but untested trap.
--Discussion about
how a brand name of trap should be selected for testing.
Initially the trap use survey was the indicator, but
discussion of method occurred. If the situation arises
where a new testing opportunity presents itself,
manufacturers might submit the traps that they feel is
appropriate and a blind process (drawn from a hat) will
be used.
|
